Association between leukaemia and X‐ray in children: A nationwide study. (9th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shih, Tian‐Yu; Wu, Jay; Muo, Chin‐Shin; Kao, Chia‐Hung
• Is Part Of: Journal of paediatrics and child health. Volume 50:Number 8(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 615
• Page End: 618
• Publication Date: 2014-06-09
• Subjects: Children -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1111/jpc.12605
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1034-4810

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jpc12605-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>The frequency of employing radiography is increasing. Long‐term risks of performing X‐ray procedures on children and adolescents for medical diagnosis have raised significant concerns.</p> </sec> <sec id="jpc12605-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>In this study, we adopt the case‐control methodology to evaluate the relationship between the incidence rate of acute leukaemia and exposure to radiation during diagnostic X‐ray examinations for children. Based on 1998–2010 data obtained from the Taiwan Bureau of National Health Insurance database, we selected 58 children with leukaemia and randomly selected an additional 232 children as the control group.</p> </sec> <sec id="jpc12605-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The mean age of children with leukaemia is 8.92 ± 5.24 years. The risk of leukaemia in children who underwent X‐ray examinations increased 2.14‐fold (95% CI, 1.18–3.87). In this study, we identified that, when undergoing X‐ray examinations, the risk of leukaemia in children increased for both sex and age groups. Specifically, the relationship between leukaemia and X‐ray in boys (OR = 3.28, 95%CI, 1.33–8.07) and in ages of 6 to 11 years (OR = 2.58, 95%CI, 1.09–6.10) was significant. Overall, the risk of leukaemia in children who underwent X‐ray examinations progressively increased from a ratio of 1.65 to 3.14. Moreover, an identical trend was observed for boys (1.85 to 6.42).</p> </sec> <sec id="jpc12605-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Exposure to X‐ray increased the risk of leukaemia in children.</p> </sec> </abstract>